Posts by WAVES Project

2021 in Review

After the challenges of the previous year, 2021 brought with it new opportunities & growth. The following summary highlights our training and organizational accomplishments. In January we kicked off the year inspecting and servicing all of our SCUBA training gear. All regulators, computers & buoyancy compensating device (BCD) were inspected and serviced by WAVES staff,…

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Wounded veterans experience therapeutic benefits of diving while helping Dry Tortugas National Park

KEY WEST, Fla. – Dry Tortugas National Park hosted volunteer divers from the Wounded American Veterans Experience Scuba (WAVES) Project who spent a week helping the coral reef ecosystem at the park and in return received therapy, healing and relief from their service-connected disabilities. Seven veterans traveled to the remote Dry Tortugas archipelago, from Oct.…

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WAVES Project Women Veterans Volunteer at Biscayne National Park

Five female veterans of the US Armed Services joined the National Park Service for a week of removing marine debris from Biscayne National Park, July 5-11, 2021. The veterans were sponsored by the Wounded American Veterans Experience SCUBA (WAVES Project), non-profit established to provide opportunities for veterans with service-connected disabilities and their families to experience…

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WAVES Project – Texas

WAVES Project Texas is based in the Houston area led by Instructor SSG Jeffrey Pickard U.S. Army (Ret). Read more about Jeff and his service here: Jeff began his open water training with WAVES Project in our California home office and completed the open water course in 2016. Because he and loved every minute of…

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Run for Remembrance 9/11/2021

WAVES Project Veteran Jeff Houser This September 11th marks the 20th anniversary of a day that changed so many lives. In an effort to raise funds for the WAVES Project, a non-profit organization, I’m running the Surf City Half Marathon in remembrance of all those that lost their lives that day and the many years…

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Wounded Veterans Support through Mission Oriented Diving

What is Mission Oriented Diving? The WAVES Project Mission Oriented Diving program provides wounded veterans support and the opportunity and support to take part in service projects in various locations throughout the US. Projects we are currently involved in with the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center include: Lake Mead – mapping project at the…

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Eileen Gaynor Memorial

A message from Tom Gaynor – posted on 6/24/2021: Peace arrived this morning just as the sun started to break the horizon. It was a beautiful sunrise. Eileen’s breathing was very labored though, the amazing night nurse checked in on her as she had all evening, we kissed her and said we all loved her,…

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New Master Diver Challenge from SSI for 2021.

Below is the information on the challenge – contact us at WAVES Project if you have questions!   LET’S KEEP DIVING!     ANNOUNCING THE 2021 MASTER DIVER CHALLENGE!     “The 2021 Master Diver Challenge has shaped up to be the best ever,” states Jeff Saenger, SSI Director of Sales. “Not only do we have great…

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February Military History

Points of interest in Military History are available online, many are available on the History Channel’s website – we are sharing some of the highlights here! President Abraham Lincoln negotiating an end to the American Civil War On February 3, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) and Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801-72) met with…

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2020 Year in Review

1st Quarter FOB – Palmdale, California. The first week of February our first “Forward Operating Base Palmdale” completed their first open water class certifying 3 veteran divers. This location is supported by the Antelope Valley Desert Divers club who held a very successful fundraiser at the Bravery Brewing Company. Training was suspended due to the…

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Research and Studies

Scuba Diving Improves Function of Body, Mind in Vets with Spinal Cord Injury Johns Hopkins researchers find ‘dramatic’ results in small preliminary study Release Date: September 17, 2011 A small group of veterans with spinal cord injuries who underwent a four-day scuba- diving certification saw significant improvement in muscle movement, increased sensitivity to light touch…

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How to help Veterans deal with isolation.

Article contributed by Dr. Bill LaForge, Ph.D; a member of the WAVES Project Advisory Board. Thank you Bill for your continued support and bringing your expertise to help veterans! It is a major part of their symptomatology that they avoid reaching out to family and friends. The classic symptom clusters (Hyperarousal, Intrusion and Constriction) all…

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Bonnie R. Casler

March is Women’s History Month and WAVES Project is honored to spotlight one of our “Women of WAVES” trailblazers.  Bonnie Casler, MSG, (Ret) joined the Army in 1977 after graduating from college with a degree in Education.  She was the last graduating class of WAC (Women Army Corps), which was dissolved as the Army became…

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Smokey Mountain Catering Leads WAVES Project Service program.

There are times in history where the worst situations will bring out the best in people.  WAVES Project is honored to recognize Jennifer Thompson for her creativity, dedication and leadership during the recent COVID-19 shutdown.  Jennifer launched “WAVES Project Feeds the Knolls” in collaboration with Shamrock Foods, Elks Lodge #2591, and the WAVES Project to…

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